mike99c
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What's the best way to make a Bootstrap 5 website compatible with IE and other old browsers
I'm starting to build websites using Bootstrap 5 and will be using the WebP image format. I understand Bootstrap 5 has stopped support for Internet Explorer. I would like advice on the best feature detection and polyfill applications to use to ensure my websites gracefully degrade on IE and other older browsers.
My main requirement is to detect WebP support and deliver other image formats if there is no support. What other features should I detect to ensure my Bootstrap 5 website doesn't break completely?
My main requirement is to detect WebP support and deliver other image formats if there is no support. What other features should I detect to ensure my Bootstrap 5 website doesn't break completely?
Hey there,
The simple answer is ... don't.
If you want to use new features and technologies, then don't try and support dead browsers, and if you absolutely must support dead browsers (not recommended), then don't try and use new features and technologies.
That may sound a little flippant, but it's meant in all seriousness. IE has already passed EndOfLife and even Microsoft recommend you don't use it. Trying to polyfill IE with many new features will be a nightmare, if not impossible. Unless you've got a very niche clientele it's highly unlikely they'll be using IE - at the last check the coverage of IE as a browser is around 0.7%
The simple answer is ... don't.
If you want to use new features and technologies, then don't try and support dead browsers, and if you absolutely must support dead browsers (not recommended), then don't try and use new features and technologies.
That may sound a little flippant, but it's meant in all seriousness. IE has already passed EndOfLife and even Microsoft recommend you don't use it. Trying to polyfill IE with many new features will be a nightmare, if not impossible. Unless you've got a very niche clientele it's highly unlikely they'll be using IE - at the last check the coverage of IE as a browser is around 0.7%
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I do not support IE, Edge
Edge is a modern browser, and now has more market share than Firefox. Seems odd to not support it ;)
ASKER
lenamtl, thanks for your response but surely you DO support Edge as this is a modern browser? I understand that Edge uses Chromium so surely if you support Google Chrome you should also support Edge.
Edge is supported by Bootstrap 5:
https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.0/getting-started/browsers-devices/
But as stated by Bootstrap team: "Internet Explorer is not supported. If you require Internet Explorer support, please use Bootstrap v4 "
Hope the above will help clarify things for you.
https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.0/getting-started/browsers-devices/
But as stated by Bootstrap team: "Internet Explorer is not supported. If you require Internet Explorer support, please use Bootstrap v4 "
Hope the above will help clarify things for you.
Hi,
The question is more about IE and old browser
When I say not support Edge or old browser I mean I do not give user support, especially for web application.
Edge usually display fine but I would not spend time to make it working the same as other browser, I did the same for IE.
You can use tools to check browser compatibilities if you have the time and some budget
I do prefer Browserstack...
https://www.browserstack.com/
or
https://saucelabs.com/
Like I have mentionned previously check Boostrap 5 recommendation and browser compatibilities are displayed on their website
https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.0/getting-started/browsers-devices/#supported-browsers
If this is not meeting your needs use Bootstrap 4 for now
The question is more about IE and old browser
When I say not support Edge or old browser I mean I do not give user support, especially for web application.
Edge usually display fine but I would not spend time to make it working the same as other browser, I did the same for IE.
You can use tools to check browser compatibilities if you have the time and some budget
I do prefer Browserstack...
https://www.browserstack.com/
or
https://saucelabs.com/
Like I have mentionned previously check Boostrap 5 recommendation and browser compatibilities are displayed on their website
https://getbootstrap.com/docs/5.0/getting-started/browsers-devices/#supported-browsers
If this is not meeting your needs use Bootstrap 4 for now
The best way is to NOT use Bootstrap 5. Straightforward, because there's certain css features not available on older browsers engine, since Bootstrap 5 is no longer compatible with older browsers this change was made out of the fact that most world's population is on a modern browser.